Snap-switch.



C. C. ,STIRLING.

SNAP SWITCH. I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22,1917.

Patented Mar. 26, 1918.

24 ,IL II ah 25 3 r7 fur i such as that denoted in a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE C. STIRLING, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE HART & HEGEMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A COR- PORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

SNAP-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 26, 1918.

Application filed June 22, 1917. Serial No. 176,302.

rapidly moved to the on and the off positions in an effective and exact manner.

In the drawings accompanying and form-' ing part of the present specification I have shown in detail a form of embodiment of the invention which I will set forth fully in the following description. I am not restricted to this particular disclosure; I may depart therefrom in several respects within the scope of the invention defined by the claims following said description.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a horizontal section of the switch, the parts being shown in different positions by full and dotted lines respectively;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, the switching member being shown in the off and. the on positions also by full and dotted lines respectively.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the device, the button, however, being partly in elevation and the section being on the line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 1-,4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow, and

Fig. 5 is a transverse through the member illustrated as being in the on position.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The device involves in its make-up a base general way by 2 and which may be made of any of the in sulating materials now in ordinary use. This base as shown is practically circular in form, and it supports a cap or case as 3 generally of sheet metal and practically of cylindrical form, its top being closed. The case is un'ted with the base2in any desirable section taken forward part of the switching manner, their diameters as shown being approximately equal.

The switch involves in its organization a suitable switching or circuit-controlling member such as that denoted in a general way by 4 and an actuator for said switching member, such as that denoted by 5 and both of which will be hereinafter more particularly described. The base 2 constitutes a suitable support for terminals as 6 generally of metal and which as shown are practically of L-form. The horizontal branches of these terminals 6 are perforated to receive the screws 7 extending through openings in the base 2, and the lower threaded ends of which receive nuts as 8 by which wires or equivalent conductors are connected to the screws, and as a consequence to the circuitcontrolling or switching member 1.

Said circuit-controlling member as shown involves in its make-up the blades as 9 of suitable conducting material. As a matter of fact these blades are usually formed from sheet-metal. They are connected as by screws 10 to the body portion 11 of suitable insulating material, of the switching member, and as a result partake ments of'said body portion. The rear ends of the blades 9 are practically coincident with the back edge of the body portion 11, but their forward ends extend beyond the front ends of said body portion for a reason that will hereinafter appear. 1

The switching member 4: is pivoted as shown between the terminals 6, and for this purpose screws as 12 may be utilized, the screws extending through the blades and being threaded into the insulating body portion 11, the screws obviously presenting journals to provide for the rocking or oscil- 1loation of the knife-blade switching memer a.

Separated from the terminals 6 are contacts as 13, the contacts as shown each consisting of a pair of L-shaped members as 14:, the bases of which are superimposed and the upright portions of which, however, are spaced a distance sufiicient to receive the blades 9 when the switching member t is in the on or circuit-closing position as indicated best in Fig. 5. The bases of the two pairs of L-shaped members 1% are perforated to receive the screws 15, the shanks of which extend through openings in the base 2 and the threaded ends of which are furnished of the move-.

u lower end with a nut flan d part of the bushing,

-. t 16; .As shown these screws 15 are connected by a wire 17 in Fig. 2, it will be clear that the switching member is in the off position. To'limit the swing of the circuit-controlling or switching member,it may be provided upon its blades with screws 10 constituting suitable stops and which when in the extreme positions as shown for instance in full and dotted lines in Fig. 2, will abut against the terminals 6 to arrest the switching member.

The actuator or operatin means for the switching member involves 1n the organization illustrated, a spindle as 19 extending through the bushing20, the base 2 having a hole or' perforation to comparatively snugly receive the bushing. The bushing is furnished at its lower end with an annular flange to engage the under side of the base 2. The spindle 19 extends freely through the bushing to permit its easily beingturn'ed, and it may be provided at its 21 to engage the and prevent acci ental upward displacement of the bush- The spindle in addition is furnished with a stop collar as 22 fastened conveniently thereto as "by a screw or otherwise, and which engages the-up er edge of the bushing 20 which as willb above the upper surface of the supporting base 2, to

The insulatingbody 11 of the switching member 4- has an opening 23, the center of axis of which in the-present case is intersected by the axis of motion or center of oscillation of the switching member 4. .This

opening or hole 23 is of sufficient diameter to quite freely receive the spindle 19, and thewall of the opening will not come in con- [tact with the spindle-when the switching member isin the on and the off positions respectively. Said wall as-shown consists of ver e on a of t e insu ating body or core 11.

The spindle 19 extends through a hole or opening in the top of the casing or shell 3 and receives a knob or operating member as 24 whichcan be secured to the spindle in any convenientvmanner as by a screw. The

periphery of the operating member or knob 24 1s roughened to facilitate its being turned.

The longitudinal 'axis'of the spindle 19 in the present case extends through the axis of oscillation of the switching member 4.

I might note at this time that although as described the switching member 4 has an oscillation orrocking motion, the spindle,

vto impart the necessary between I the e seen' extends prevent displacement downwardly. idle, causing the prolongation of the spindle 19.

ClQSlIlg two-inwardly tapering surfaces'zwhich con-[*m'ember to the on position.

ne passing through the center however, rotates but 'step-by-step, being adapted on each step in each direction, through suitable means,

snap movement to cause the same to positions respecspring encircles the spindle 19 switching member 4 and the knob or operating portion 24. The upper terminal coil of the spring is shown having the extension 26 pro ected into an opening 1n the hub of the knob to thus connect the two parts. The lower terminal coil of the spring has a' prolongation 27 terminating in a loop 28 overlying the insulating body 11. The lower terminal coil 27, it will be understood, has no direct connection with the the switching member to move between on and oil tively. This insulating body. It is adapted as a matter as by the spring 25,.

by full lines in body or core i assumed that it is desired tomove the portion 24, thus carrying the with the spinor projection 27 to traverse or sweep across the upper surface of the core or body portion 11 and naturally compressing the sprin 24. As soon as this projection has crossef the center of oscillation of the switching member, the sprin can react or expand, and as it does so it wi 1 "act against the-core or body portion 11 to thus snap the switching member to the on position or in the construction shown to move the blades 11 into the space between the upright portions of the contact 13, thus the circuit or moving the switching Obviously to move the switching member to the off position, the operation to which I have alluded will be precisely reversed. It will be clear that the switching member can be moved irrespective of the direction of turning of the spindle 19, the latter as illustrated being capable of rotary movement. in either direction.

It is the same as shown. and in front of the body 11, I dispose the lso aacasei vane 29. This vane is of insulating material such as mica or isinglass. It abuts practically at its rear against the front of the core or body 11, its forward end, however, being in advance of the blades 9. It is vir tually portions which converge upwardly. The front of the sides of this vane 29 are cut away or slotted as at 30 to be free of the forward or front ends of the blades 9, and thus provide airways down which air may rush as the switching member is moved to circuit opening position so as to forcibly blow or direct any arcs s'dewise or at right angles to the direction or pat-h of the arcs.

'lhe vane or fan 29 extends between the blades 9, and the side walls of theslots are adapted to practically traverse the inner faces of the contacts 13 as the switching member is moved between its on and 03 positions. The movement of the angular vane or fan between the on and the off positions as will be clear, causes a rush of air across the spark gap or gaps just at the moment of breaking, thereby blowing out the arcs. As the vane moves very quickly, it functions as a fan.

What I claim is:

1. An electric snap switch comprising an oscillatory switching member, a turnable spindle in correlation with the switching member, the axes of motion of the two approximately intersecting, and a coiled spring encircling the spindle and connected therewith, the spring having a free portion directly engaging the switching member to sweep across the center of motion thereof on the turning of the spindle for successively moving the switching member to on and off positions.

2. An electric snap switch comprising an oscillatory switching member, a turnable spindle in correlation with the switching member, and a spring connected with the spindle'to turn therewith, the spring having a free portion directly engaging the switching member, and to sweep across the center of motion thereof on the turning of the spindle for successively. moving the switching member to on and off positions.

3. An electric snap switch comprising an oscillatory switching member and a spring to directly engage the switching member at composed of two duplicate integralspring all times, and means for turning the spring to cause the same to sweep across the center of motion of the switching member to successively moving the latter to on and on positions.

4:. An electric snap switch comprising an oscillatory switching member, a spiral spring having an extension at one end directly engaging the switching member at all times, and means for turning the spring to cause the same to sweep of motion of the switching member and successively move the same to on and ofi positions.

5. An electric snap switch comprising an oscillatory switching member, a turnable spindle in correlation with the switching member, the axes of motion of the two approximately intersecting, and a coiled spring encircling the spindle and connected at one end therewith, the other end of the having an extension directly engaging the switching member and to sweep across the center of motion thereof on the turning of the spindle for successively moving the switching member to on and off posltions.

6. An electric snap switch comprising an oscillatory switching member, a' spiral spring having an elongated yielding exten sion at one end directly engaging the switching member, and means for effecting the action of the spring to cause the'extension thereof to sweep across the center of motion of the switching member to successively snap the same to on and oil positions.

7 An electric snap switch comprising an oscillatory switching member, a spiral spring having a free straight end directly engaging the switching member, and means for turning said spring around the longitudinal axis of its coiled portion to cause said straight end to sweep across the center of motion of the switching member for successively moving the same to on and off positions. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE G. STIRLING.

WVitnessesr I L. L. MARKEL, HEATH SUTHERLAND.

across the center I 

